Literature review of the influences on error rates when identifying equids with transponder and hot-iron branding

• Published in: Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift Vol. 129; no. 1-2; p. 3
• Main Authors: Campe, Amely, Schulz, Sophia, Bohnet, Willa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Animal Identification Systems - methods; Animal Identification Systems - standards; Animals; Equidae - classification
• ISSN: 0005-9366
• DOI: 10.2376/0005-9366-129-3

Although equids have had to be tagged with a transponder since 2009, breeding associations in Germany disagree as to which method is best suited for identification (with or without hot iron branding). Therefore, the aim of this systematic literature review was to gain an overview of how effective identification is using transponders and hot iron branding and as to which factors influence the success of identification. Existing literature showed that equids can be identified by means of transponders with a probability of 85-100%, whereas symbol brandings could be identified correctly in 78-89%, whole number brandings in 0-87% and single figures in 37-92% of the readings, respectively. The successful reading of microchips can be further optimised by a correctly operated implantation process and thorough training of the applying persons. affect identification with a scanner. The removal of transponders for manipulation purposes is virtually impossible. Influences during the application of branding marks can hardly, if at all, be standardised, but influence the subsequent readability relevantly. Therefore, identification by means of hot branding cannot be considered sufficiently reliable. Impaired quality of identification can be reduced during reading but cannot be counteracted. Based on the existing studies it can be concluded that the transponder method is the best suited of the investigated methods for clearly identifying equids, being forgery-proof and permanent. It is not to be expected that applying hot branding in addition to microchips would optimise the probability of identification relevantly.